Time to groom a QB for future?

Brady is the current NFL MVP. Top of his game no question. But he turns 34 this summer. Consider the following:

Montana finished his career in San Francisco at age 36.
Hall of Famer Troy Aikman retired at age 34.
Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw retired at age 35.
Hall of Famer Dan Fouts retired at age 36.
Hall of Famer Jim Kelley retired at age 36.

No QB in the history of the NFL has ever won a Superbowl past the age of 38, and even that has been done only once ( Elway ).

Assuming it takes a guy like Jake Locker ( or most any other rookie ) at least 2 years before he is ready for prime time, is it worth it to invest a high pick at QB to groom for the future / protect against injury ?

Nice of Bill Parcells to weigh in on my thread:

Big Tuna: Not too early on QB plan - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

crowell33 said:

Brady is the current NFL MVP. Top of his game no question. But he turns 34 this summer. Consider the following:

Montana finished his career in San Francisco at age 36. But how long did he excel with KC? 2 more years?
Hall of Famer Troy Aikman retired at age 34. Concussions.
Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw retired at age 35. Ditto.
Hall of Famer Dan Fouts retired at age 36.
Hall of Famer Jim Kelley retired at age 36.

No QB in the history of the NFL has ever won a Superbowl past the age of 38, and even that has been done only once ( Elway ).

Assuming it takes a guy like Jake Locker ( or most any other rookie ) at least 2 years before he is ready for prime time, is it worth it to invest a high pick at QB to groom for the future / protect against injury ?

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I'm not so sure about the last two on your list. But anyhow, in many ways athletes are better preserved then they used to be. In football, the hits eventually add up. But is there any sign of that with Brady? Pretty much our only complaint about him vs. younger Brady is that he seems to "choke" more, and I don't see where that is age-related.

Manning is a few years older than Brady, and he still seems to be elite.

Peyton Manning: March 24, 1976

Tom Brady: August 3, 1977

Yeah, only a year older.

Too soon

We have a possible GOAT. Rather than insure he has the best possible supporting cast to win over his next 4 contract years we urinate away a HIGH pick on a backup QB for 2015? I say no. Emphatic no.

PatsWickedPissah said:

Too soon

We have a possible GOAT. Rather than insure he has the best possible supporting cast to win over his next 4 contract years we urinate away a HIGH pick on a backup QB for 2015? I say no. Emphatic no.

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That certainly is one point of view. Not sure Bill Walsh felt he was urinating away the 2nd and 4th round picks he traded for Steve Young to sit as a backup for three years.

Not sure the Packers felt they were urinating away a first round pick on Aaron Rodgers to sit around as Favre's backup for three years.

crowell33 said:

That certainly is one point of view. Not sure Bill Walsh felt he was urinating away the 2nd and 4th round picks he traded for Steve Young to sit as a backup for three years.

Not sure the Packers felt they were urinating away a first round pick on Aaron Rodgers to sit around as Favre's backup for three years.

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In just a matter of days we'll see how BB feels about spending those 1st or 2nd picks on a QB. I'll resurrect the thread for laughs.

PatsWickedPissah said:

Too soon

We have a possible GOAT. Rather than insure he has the best possible supporting cast to win over his next 4 contract years we urinate away a HIGH pick on a backup QB for 2015? I say no. Emphatic no.

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I wouldn't spend a 1 or a 2, but I could see the Pats spending a 3 or a 4.

BennyBledsoe said:

Peyton Manning: March 24, 1976

Tom Brady: August 3, 1977

Yeah, only a year older.

Click to expand...

Manning just feels older because he's been shoved down our throats much longer.

PatsWickedPissah said:

In just a matter of days we'll see how BB feels about spending those 1st or 2nd picks on a QB. I'll resurrect the thread for laughs.

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You won't have to. When the Pats draft a QB on day 2, I'll bump it for ya.

ctpatsfan77 said:

I wouldn't spend a 1 or a 2, but I could see the Pats spending a 3 or a 4.

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That I could see. They've done it before. Sadly, he can't beat out the Sanchize.

EDIT: despite history I don't see a 3rd @ QB this April

crowell33 said:

Brady is the current NFL MVP. Top of his game no question. But he turns 34 this summer. Consider the following:

Montana finished his career in San Francisco at age 36.
Hall of Famer Troy Aikman retired at age 34.
Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw retired at age 35.
Hall of Famer Dan Fouts retired at age 36.
Hall of Famer Jim Kelley retired at age 36.

No QB in the history of the NFL has ever won a Superbowl past the age of 38, and even that has been done only once ( Elway ).

Assuming it takes a guy like Jake Locker ( or most any other rookie ) at least 2 years before he is ready for prime time, is it worth it to invest a high pick at QB to groom for the future / protect against injury ?

Click to expand...

Rule changes mean the QB that can't be touched might last longer than Troy "Concussion" Aikman.

I'd be afraid Tom's subconscious would be thinking "IT IS JUST LIKE AT MICHIGAN! HENSON MUST DIE!!!!"

crowell33 said:

Brady is the current NFL MVP. Top of his game no question. But he turns 34 this summer. Consider the following:

Montana finished his career in San Francisco at age 36.
Hall of Famer Troy Aikman retired at age 34.
Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw retired at age 35.
Hall of Famer Dan Fouts retired at age 36.
Hall of Famer Jim Kelley retired at age 36.

No QB in the history of the NFL has ever won a Superbowl past the age of 38, and even that has been done only once ( Elway ).

Assuming it takes a guy like Jake Locker ( or most any other rookie ) at least 2 years before he is ready for prime time, is it worth it to invest a high pick at QB to groom for the future / protect against injury ?

Click to expand...

What about Warren Moon who played into his 40s? Or Favre who had a career year at 39? Or Elway who won his first of two Super Bowls at 37? Or Rich Gannon who won league MVP at 37? Gannon went to a Super Bowl at age 37. Favre was one stupid INT from going to a Super Bowl at 39.

Aikman's, Bradshaw's, and Montana's retirements were injury related. The time where most of the QBs you listed, Brady would have been in forced retirement when he tore his ACL (back in the 70s, 80s, and even early 90s; an ACL tear was a death sentence to a player's career).

If the Pats take a QB before the 3rd round, Belichick should immediately go to the hospital and get checked out for altheimers. There is no reason to believe that Brady can't give the Pats 4-5 more elite to very good years barring an injury. Possibly longer. No can doubt Brady's desire (although a lot of fairweather fans have) and his style of play is condusive to a long career.

RICKY STANZI *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap*

If BB likes Stanzi as much as I do he'll consider a 4th rounder for him a steal.

crowell33 said:

That certainly is one point of view. Not sure Bill Walsh felt he was urinating away the 2nd and 4th round picks he traded for Steve Young to sit as a backup for three years.

Not sure the Packers felt they were urinating away a first round pick on Aaron Rodgers to sit around as Favre's backup for three years.

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If the Pats could trade for say Matt Ryan and let him sit on the bench for three to four years and not totally screw up the salary cap, I say go for it. Otherwise, the Young reference is useless since it was before free agency and the cap and the 49ers could have the luxury of having two starting QBs on the roster. Could never happen today.

The Packers' situation was different too in that Favre wasn't coming of an unanimous MVP season. The Packers were declining (they went 4-12 in 2005 which was the year Rodgers was drafted and 8-8 in 2006) and the Packers were looking towards the future without Favre because they were in rebuild mode anyway. If they were coming off a 14-2 season with a lot of young players infused already like the Pats were, the Packers may not have drafted Rodgers. But they figured they might have to replace Favre by the time they are good again and took the risk.

I don't think there is a need at all for a QB. What's wrong with Brian Hoyer? I don't think the Patriots need to waste a top draft pick on a QB this year, or in the next year or two when they have a solid young guy in Hoyer already on the roster and getting some experience. Are people really forgetting about him?

BennyBledsoe said:

Peyton Manning: March 24, 1976

Tom Brady: August 3, 1977

Yeah, only a year older.

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Seems like a bigger practical difference than 1 1/2 years.

Manning's been a starter for at least 2 more seasons than Brady, not counting Brady's injury season. If I had to guess, I'd say the figure is 3.

blackglass3 said:

Manning just feels older because he's been shoved down our throats much longer.

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Manning was drafted two years before Brady and started three years before Brady did. That is why people think he is that much older.

I don't know though. I think Manning if he doesn't get an o-line soon might end up having a shorter career. He seemed to have been hit a lot and bothered this year. Brady is tougher. Brady has always taken more hits and stood up to them. Manning avoids a lot of hits because of his quick release and once wall of a line.

Locker visiting for two days, Mallett visiting for two days, Dalton PW, Stanzi PW, the kid from Sacred Heart, Potts PW, Weber PW, Van Camp PW, they've looked at Colburn, Chappell, Froman, ... and those are the guys we've found digging through the media. The hunt for the next Tommy Brady is ongoing and relentless.

Walker of ESPN, reporting that Patriots will host QB Mallett from Arkansas next week for a visit in Foxboro. Two day visit with Jake Locker in Foxboro was completed last week, according to Walker.